Bob Murphy

Author Archive

ObamaCare Is About Sticking Up for the Little Guy Against the Powerful State

This offhand remark by Krugman is really amazing: Terrific piece in the WaPo on how Kentucky’s rural poor are being helped by Kynect, the state’s version of Obamacare, which has had a picture-perfect rollout. This is why we need health reform. To my misfortune, I accidentally read some of the comments, which which full of […]

A Note on GDP Calculations

David R. Henderson has an interesting post on the problems with using GDP as a criterion of economic goodness. Now let me be clear (as Obama would say): I fully agree with the general theme of his post, especially the examples of cheap or even free things offered on the Internet and hence not showing […]

Clarification on Methodological Individualism

On that great intellectual forum known as Facebook, there is an argument over methodological individualism. (I’m not naming names since, what happens on Facebook…) Someone argued that if the standard Austrian position is that it doesn’t make sense to say, “The US government bombed Germany,” then such a person can’t stop the reduction at the […]

Dr. Pangloss Was Right

I have made this point before, and been denounced by atheists and theists alike: This really is the best possible world. Yes, “free will” is involved in understanding why, but when the atheist critic says, “If your God is so good, why does He allow suffering?” it is correct to say, “Because it’s better that […]

Jennifer Lawrence Is a Doll on The Daily Show

How can you not like her? I really hope this is her real personality. The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook

Guest Post: “Revising Patriotism” by Adam House

Editor’s note: I recently carpooled with Adam on a trip from Nashville to Atlanta to see a performance by Jordan Page. I asked Adam how he had come to his current political views and thought his answer–which centered on his time in the military in Afghanistan–was quite profound. I asked him to share his thoughts, […]

The NYT on Filibusters, and a Note on Methodological Individualism

Scott Sumner has a hilarious analysis of the New York Times’ views on filibusters over the years. Here’s Scott (and I’m not indenting it because it would get too confusing): . . ============ Start Scott Sumner quotation ========== PPS. Here’s the NYT endorsing the Senate’s filibuster vote: In a 52-to-48 vote that substantially altered the balance […]

Pamela Stubbart Makes an Intriguing Point About Consent

I am going to regret this with 99% confidence, but I was intrigued by a Facebook post from Pamela J. Stubbart (reprinted with her permission). She wrote: Dear Libertarians Who Are Squabbling About Rape, N.b., if “tacit consent” isn’t a satisfactory standard for the state’s moral legitimacy, then maybe it’s not good enough for the […]